Korea’s first plus-size model, Vivian Geeyang Kim (Kim Ji Yang) recently did an interview with OOGEEWOOGEE about beauty standards in Korea and how she copes with it on a daily basis.
Vivian Geeyang Kim became reminiscent of what she was told when it came to her body and even quoting them, “My mom said, “I gave you ‘normal’ birth,” with a sigh, and my grandma used to say, “You need to do some self-starvation,” even though I eat like a bird during most of meal times.” Vivian gave a complete inside look not just as a plus-sized model especially concerning the Korean way of applying for jobs. Vivian revealed when you apply for a job you have to include a headshot of yourself and how unlike western way of applying for jobs, that it’s based on mainly outside appearance not just their ability.
During the sit-down Vivian compared also, sizes in women’s clothing in Korean culture and body image in general. The model explained the system of sizes in Korea, for example if your upper body is a US 8 or an EU 40, you will be considered plus size no matter your height or muscle mass. In Korea size 66 is considered a plus-size for women while size 100 is considered the plus-size for men. Vivian dug in further explaining that BMI BMI (Body Mass Index) doesn’t really exist in Korea, it’s either you have size US 4 / EU 36 or you’re fat.
Korea is ahead of medicine when it comes to plastic surgery, women, young and old all flock to plastic surgery to get work done. Vivian continued to break down the topic of body image/body shaming especially when it involves altering our looks instead of our way of thinking.
Vivian revealed her only problem with this is that, it’s encouraged to look up to others like celebrities and idols instead of looking inside and learn who they are as an individual, stating, “I think it’s the side-effect of the masses idea. People don’t look through their inside, as they think it’s weird and doesn’t fit with them; they just adore their idols and celebrities and follow– and others will follow them.”
One procedure that is so popular in Korea that it’s not even seen as a major procedure is double eye-lid surgery. Both men and women get this done to appear more attractive and to gain major opportunities. Vivian stated that while it is a choice, it’s still something that shouldn’t be tread lightly on, she said, “It’s awful, as they are growing and changing themselves every moment. We conventionally have double eyelid surgery when young girls graduate high school, and I think that we have to make age-restrictions for plastic surgery.” Vivian made sure that the ‘boys’ were not left out and voiced her concern for them as well when it comes to plastic surgery is due to their lack of confidence. She reveals that they battle with their self-image. Though she didn’t say, you sensed that building someone up is very important so they can feel themselves up.
The head-strong model revealed that she isn’t made of stone especially discussing the pains she has to go through especially about people judging her health just by her body. Vivian revealed that she was once a very vulnerable and stressed person when it came to her weight but revealed once she stopped the dieting and just excepted who she was tat a major weight was lifted and she no longer felt stressed and that, “Shape and weight are not an absolute criteria for health condition.” Our size doesn’t always guarantee one’s health.
Vivian is indeed a wise and strong woman who understands how how the world works and reality. Her opinion on the matter of foreigners was both fresh and completely understanding. Foreigner’s having a negative conception about other cultures was that it isn’t wrong, but misunderstood and different or as she put it, “‘Universality’ is different for every cultural space, so foreigners don’t need to have negative opinions about other cultures– their opinion is just different, not wrong.” Vivian is certainly a flower child in her own rite, as she preaches love and acceptance.
Vivian Geeyang Kim is the editor and chief of her own fashion magazine called “66100” which is all about promoting healthy body image as to what a real body looks like and not something created by media.
In reality we all have different body types and should accept and love every roll, our hips, thighs, our love handles and just every inch of how we look. You don´t need to be a size EU 36 or less to be pretty, Vivian is absolutely gorgeous and her preaching and being the voice to what a body is supposed to look like and how we gotta love the one body we’re stuck with.
Like many fighting the same battle and even men, Vivian Geeyang Kim (Kim Ji Yang) is certainly a pioneer in promoting healthy body image especially in a society that demands physical perfection instead of mental perfection. Vivian is a woman on a mission and is on the road to understanding herself and her body while bringing along others with hers on this journey of finding our center and building the courage to get rid of the negativity.
Source: oogeewoogee
Edited by: KareBare
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